Golf Lessons: How to Fix a Slice

Benjamin Barrone is an accounting and finance professional in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Barone worked in public accounting as an auditor for nearly five years before continuing his career in the private sector. Most recently, he served as Director of Finance for Vital Proteins, a startup in Chicago that sells ingestible collagen products. In addition to his passion for helping startups Benjamin (Ben) Barrone also enjoys spending the summer months golfing. Ben prefers a right-to-left shot shape (draw) and offers the following tips for fixing a slice.

The number one influence on the shape of a golf shot is the swing path coming into the golf ball on the downswing. An outside-to-inside swing path, sometimes referred to as “coming over the top” promoted a left-to-right ballflight. When it is pronounced, it produces the dreaded “slice”. A slice not only causes the ball to move further from the intended target – it also takes away significant distance from the shot.

A golf swing with similar swing speeds but different swing paths can have enormous differences in distance. For example, a slight draw with a driver at a swing speed of 100 mph may result in a drive of approximately 260 yards. A drive with the same swing speed, but with a pronounced slice, may barely reach 200 yards if the slice is severe.

Benjamin Barone offers the following tips which may be useful in combating the dreaded slice. Think of these as individual swing thoughts or tips to try, rather than trying all at once, and see what works:

Take the club back on the outside, to allow room to “drop it down” to the inside on the downswing.

Keep your head behind the ball at impact.

Ensure you aren’t finishing your swing with your weight on your toes.

Move the ball back in your stance – this makes it easier to avoid “reaching for the ball”

Trust the loft of the club to get the ball airborne – no need to “lift” it up.